Candidates Clash Over Fiscal Issues

February 23, 1990|By JEFFREY RUBIN, Staff Writer

CORAL SPRINGS -- In a debate that quickly degenerated into a mudslinging free-for-all, city candidates clashed over some of the biggest issues in this year`s campaign -- fiscal responsibility, city attorney`s fees and economic development.

The Wednesday night debate, sponsored by the city`s Chamber of Commerce and the Broward County League of Women Voters, began peacefully with mayoral hopefuls Jeanne Mills and Roger Silversmith, telling a crowd of about 100 how they would erase huge operating deficits at the city`s new aquatics complex and community center.

Silversmith, saying he was personally offended by the City Commission`s fiscal shenanigans, said the deficits, which could amount to several hundred thousand dollars in the facilities` first year of operation, only could be handled by reducing the city budget. He targeted the city attorney`s office, which receives more than $600,000 a year in a no-bid arrangement with the city.

``I don`t see money as a problem if the pencil is sharp and the will is there,`` he said, rolling his eyes at Mills` responses.

Mills, a city commissioner, maintained that aggressive marketing of programs at both complexes would virtually eliminate any deficit in the first year or two of operation. She also said revenue would be drawn from user fees, property taxes and franchise fees.

According to the city, the aquatic center, which opens next month, and the community center, due to open this summer, have a combined operating cost of about $1.2 million for their first full year, a figure partially covered by the city budget. The community center is also about $1.7 million over budget, a figure Mills attributes to construction problems and use of a more expensive design.

Later in the two-hour debate, the makeshift dais at the Coral Springs Mall was surrendered to the city`s four commission candidates -- incumbent Don Sanders, running mate Bill Stradling, and challengers Bill Griffin and Alan Polin. Each candidate appeared to play to specific segments of the audience -- the ones wearing their campaign hats and T-shirts -- as they attacked their foes.

--Griffin, battling Sanders for Seat 4, claimed his foe is hiding voting conflicts by refusing to follow his example and release a client list from his business. Both men are stockbrokers. Sanders said his list is confidential.

--Sanders accused Griffin of being a puppet of Commissioner Jim Gordon, who is under investigation on misconduct charges by the state Commission on Ethics.

--Polin, a lawyer, accused Stradling, his Seat 2 opponent, of filing for candidacy at the last minute and having little dedication to city affairs. Stradling is chairman of the city`s Chamber of Commerce.

--Stradling, an organizer of the annual Our Town festival, said Polin could not match his record of service to the city.

``While my opponent was handing out literature at Our Town, I was busy making $5 million for this community,`` said Stradling.